Tribal fighting leaves one dead, several injured

By ZACHERY PER
AN ongoing tribal fight over a coffee plantation in upper Asaro in Daulo, Eastern Highlands, has left one dead and several injured.
Anton Simbai, an academic at the University of Goroka, who comes from Namta village in the upper Asaro area, confirmed the fight between two factions of the Wamiufa tribe who had claims over the Sehereni coffee plantation.
Simbai said the fight had been on and off for some time and flared up recently when one of the leaders, Kerua Kongi, died and was buried by his Wamiufa one clansmen in the coffee plantation.
He said the choice of the burial site angered Wamiufa two faction and they responded by attacking Wamiufa one clansmen on Wednesday.
Simbai confirmed that one man was injured after being attacked with a bush knife and later died at the Goroka hospital.
“Many others are being treated at the hospital, others with minor injuries were treated and discharged,” he said.
The Sereheni coffee plantation has been at the centre of a dispute over ownership since it was abandoned by Steamships company many years ago.
“David Orimaro, from the Wamiufa one, clan, took over the management of the plantation amidst tensions over ownership until he passed away last year and one of his strongest supporters (Kongi) also died recently and was buried in the plantation which provoked Wamiufa two to attack,” Simbai said.
Eastern Highlands police commander Supt David Seine Jr directed police at Asaro station to arrest suspects and the leaders.
Asaro police station commander Gabriel Samour and his men went to the area and brought the situation under control.
Samour said he had called on the clan leaders to surrender to police but they had not come forward. He said his men would look for them.